Latest Online Thrift Find

I found the above French style cane back chair on Kijiji this morning. It is in good condition and the seller is asking $40! I offered $30 since I intend to have it recovered, so keeping the upfront cost down will help keep the overall price tag down. I realize it is a departure from my normal style but how nice would it look recovered in a cream linen fabric and used as a statement chair in my 'one day' living room?

House Status

I have been meaning to post this since January but haven't got around to it.

Before- (These pictures include the last owners belongings!!)












After-


Even this picture is a little old. Since it was taken we have replaced the garage door (not shown) with a lighter one with windows in it and the plants are all much larger and more mature. Looks much better...


I'm sure this goes without saying but I have re-arranged the living room several times since this photo.






The kitchen is only slightly different with the addition of an espresso maker.



I am not happy enough with the guest room, office and master bedroom to include them in the after photos but maybe after these last few jobs are complete I will be.

Jobs that still NEED to be done in the house…

Kitchen

- re-paint walls to cover touch up marks

- fix-up pass thru trim (sand, repaint)

- touch-up trim

- touch-up inside of kitchen cabinets

- trim to finish off the flooring under the dishwasher

- paint ceiling

Front entrance

- fix-up front utility closet (new shelving, paint, add hooks, finish flooring)

- buy and paint new stool (so I have easy access to a stool to reach the top cabinets in my kitchen)

- paint ceiling

Hallway

- re-paint walls to cover touch up marks

- spray paint picture frames in matte black finish

- select & print new/updated pictures for frames

- paint ceiling

Guest bedroom

- finish painting trim (2 coats)

- re-paint walls to cover touch up marks

- fix crown moulding on electrical box enclosure

- cut and paint shelves in closet

- re-paint bedside table cream (i.e., swiss coffee)

- paint ceiling

Bathroom

- add trim to conceal sink plumping at wall

- spray paint exposed plumping on sink (just for aesthetics)

- touch-up trim around door

- paint ceiling

Office

- finish painting trim (2 coats)

- re-paint walls to cover touch up marks

- buy & replace closet door

- paint new closet door

- paint ceiling

Master bedroom

- stain footboard of bed to match the headboard

- buy & hang new curtains

- re-paint walls

- re-paint bedside table and dresser a semi-gloss black (versus matt black which they are now and are not easy to clean)

- paint ceiling

Above are the jobs I actually intend to do, but my next post will be the jobs I would LOVE to do if we ended up staying here...

Paris Apartments

Stu and I have been planning our next trip to Paris and this time instead of staying at a hotel we are renting an apartment. While searching for the apartment I have found some of the most beautiful spaces and, for whatever reason, I find that I am drawn to the smaller spaces... something about the high ceilings, enormous windows, white walls and wood floors...







Technically these last 2 photos are of a studio apartment in San Francisco but it feels very Parisian to me.

DIY Painted Canvas Idea

I was inspired by some DIY painted canvases that I came across online and thought I would use Microsoft Powerpoint to try and make up a few simple ones of my own.

Mid Century Modern Furniture

Based on my last post about my dream living room, I think it is obvious that I like mid century modern furniture. Rooms with hits of mid century modern really appeal to me. Of course I would not want the room to look retro, but in small doses the furniture just looks good. BONUS: (a side note that is important to me) most of this furniture is readily available used- a lot in good condition and for incredibly reasonable prices.

Inspiration...

My Dream Living Room

I made up a storyboard for my dream living room (not necessarily for the cottage but for a city apartment). I picture the walls a warm cream colour with lots of black frames and thick white mats and lots of wood elements to introduce warmth into the room(s).

What it involves:

1) the Stylus Lyric sofa (when we were sofa shopping it was my tied with the sofa we eventually bought) in beige
2) the personalized street sign I made a few weeks back (not shown in the above storyboard)
3) lots of black and white photography in black frames with thick white mats (which we already have in our apartment in Montreal)
4) a mid century modern sideboard (which I don't have, but could definitely find online thrift shopping)
5) wood lettered bookends (I would actually prefer them in black)
6) upholstered dining chairs
7) a mid century modern armchair (which I have blogged about quite a few times, also a potential online thrift find)
8) an oval, pedestal coffee table
9) black and white toile fabric (for pillows, etc.)
10) a large, simple, clean lined dining table (also a potential online thrift find)
11) accessories- some of which I already have (e.g., ottomans, bowl, throw blanket) and some I would need to buy (e.g., water hyacinth baskets)

Old Signs

I love the look of old street, bus or subway signs. They are widely available (mostly reproductions) but I thought I could make one that was a little personal. Mine includes all the streets that my husband and myself have ever lived. I am thinking that I would like it too be quite large (maybe 2 x 7`), matted and framed.

Now to figure out where to have it printed and how to find an inexpensive custom frame...